German insurer Allianz raised its dividend by less than expected after earnings in its core property and casualty insurance businesses lagged and results in asset management stalled following client defections at its US unit Pimco. Europe's largest insurer on February 26 unveiled a dividend of 6.85 euros ($8) per share, up from 5.30 euros paid for 2013 but short of the median forecast of 7.00 euros in a Reuters poll of banks and brokerages.
Both net and operating profit fell short of analysts' average expectations in the full year.
"Geopolitical tensions, continued market volatility and a further decline in interest rates in 2014 led to lower global economic growth than expected," outgoing Allianz Chief Executive Michael Diekmann said in a statement.
Operating profit in the company's main money-spinning division, property and casualty insurance, was hit by the need to bolster reserves as a buffer against potential claims in Brazil, at Fireman's Fund in the United States and in Russia.
Asset management operating profit also fell short of expectations in the full year amid management turmoil and investor withdrawals at US bond manager Pimco, including the defection of investment guru Bill Gross last year.
Operating profit of 10.4 billion euros for the full year was short of the average expectation of 10.7 billion in the poll.
The company forecast the same operating profit of 10.4 billion euros for 2015, adding that the result could be 400 million euros higher or lower depending on the development of capital markets and large damage claims.
Analysts polled by Reuters on average expect operating profit of 10.8 billion euros this year.
Full year net profit came in a 6.22 billion euros, compared with the average expectation of 6.45 billion in the Reuters poll.
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